I N M Y L I F E This month has had a lot going on, for me and for the people around me. The highlight, of course, was my week-long vacation with my family (+ boyfriends). We went boating, jet-skiing, saw a few shows, visited a Titanic museum, went to an indoor ropes course adventure place, and spent plenty of time outside in the sun. It was a much-needed break from real life. About halfway through the week, I actually felt how much the stress and tension had melted away.
This past weekend was one of the best. On Saturday I went into the city for brunch and the beach, then went to a festival for a few hours. Sunday morning was very lazy cozy before spending the rest of the day running errands, walking around the lake, and playing tennis.

Tonight I'm ending the month on a high note, going to hang out with my friend at her new house (!) that she bought (!!) with her boyfriend (!!!).

A R O U N D T H E W E B

I finished the latest season of "Orange is the New Black" and came across this article about why it didn't work. While I enjoyed the season and found it to be really powerful, it made some good points.

Ruthie Lindsey is a stranger I follow on Instagram, and I do so because she has an infectious sense of pure happiness. It's a cheerfulness that is so different than how she was years ago. Her story is the most inspiring thing. Read it. Watch it. Absorb it.10 uncomfortable things you can do that will help you be happier and achieve more.

My cousin decided to be a surrogate, which I think is so cool. She started a blog to share her journey.

There are plenty of important milestones you can reach in life that aren't marriage, like these.

T H I N G S I ' M L O V I N GAny and all things organization-related. Walking through IKEA just to get inspiration has become one of my favorite things to do. I bought a silverware tray that I ended up using to sort out my bedroom junk drawer. Small storage boxes (trays? containers?) to help group and organize random food in our cabinets. A pot lid rack, which is a purchase I never would've thought of but is a lifesaver.

ColourPop Lippie Stix. To be honest, I know I didn't buy this but I can't remember how I got it. It might have been in the Bless Box I got a few months ago. However it came to me, I'm glad it did, because I love it. Super smooth and easy to put on.

N E T F L I XNetflix has had too much original content coming out to not have its own section in this month's wrap-up. (It's surprising that I was able to get anything done.)

"GLOW" – Don't judge this show by the thumbnail. A friend of mine recommended it, and when I saw it on Netflix I thought, uhhhh... are you sure? Yes, I'm sure. It's a great show.

"To The Bone" – What struck me the most about this movie was the heartbreaking realness to it. The main character, Ellen (Lily Collins), struggles with anorexia, but through other characters in the recovery home, the movie depicts the various ways an eating disorder can manifest in someone. (Note: This movie could be triggering if you are currently struggling with an eating disorder or have in the past.)

"Friends From College" – I'm four episodes in (out of eight) and so far, I'm disappointed. Everyone is saying how hilarious it is, but I think it's sad. There are some funny scenes, but for the most part I'm left feeling frustrated and annoyed.

"Ozark" – I've only just started this show, but reminds me a bit of "Breaking Bad" and stars Jason Bateman, so it seems promising.L O O K I N G F O R W A R D T O Next month, my family and I are going down to Carbondale to see the total solar eclipse on August 21. It's supposed to be a pretty big deal down there since the town is in the eclipse's direct path. For about two minutes or so in the afternoon, the sun will be completely covered.

Aside from that, my goal is simply to enjoy the last month of summer as much as I can.